CEO of MTN's S.Africa business resigns as strike drags on

JOHANNESBURG, July 6 (Reuters) - The chief executive of
MTN's South African unit has resigned, an internal
statement by Africa's largest mobile operator said on Monday, as
a strike by 2,000 workers approaches its second month.

Ahmad Farroukh, who took up the post last year, will leave
the company by the end of the month, MTN Group CEO Sifiso
Dabengwa said in a statement circulated to the company's staff.

Farroukh's departure was unavoidable due to personal and
family reasons, Dabengwa said.

The announcement comes as a strike rages on at the company's
South African operations, its second-largest market.

The departing executive joined MTN in 2006 and served as CEO
of the mobile operator's units in Nigeria and Ghana.

"The strike is now in its seventh week and it is problematic
for both sides. We are hoping to meet this week and try and
settle issues and address how the 'no work, no pay' issue will
be handled," Clyde Mervin, president of the Communication Wokers
Union, said.

Shares in MTN was down more than 3 percent by 1358 GMT at
225.32 rand.
(Reporting by TJ Strydom and Peroshni Govender; Editing by
Louise Heavens and David Holmes)